A breathtaking innings from 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi propelled Rajasthan Royals into the second qualifier of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL), the premier Twenty20 cricket competition in India, after a commanding 47-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium in New Chandigarh on Wednesday. Sooryavanshi, who opened the batting, struck 97 off just 29 deliveries — an innings laced with five fours and 12 sixes — dismantling an attack led by Australia captain Pat Cummins and leaving a capacity crowd in stunned admiration.

The teenager's pyrotechnics set Rajasthan on course for a daunting total of 243 for eight, with wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel contributing a brisk 50 off 21 balls after Sooryavanshi's departure. In response, Sunrisers were bowled out for 196, their chase fatally undermined by a searing opening burst from England fast bowler Jofra Archer, who dismissed Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Travis Head in quick succession to leave Hyderabad reeling at 57 for four. The dismissal of South Africa's Heinrich Klaasen shortly after effectively ended the contest.

Beyond the match result, Sooryavanshi rewrote the record books. His 12th six of the night took his season tally to 65, surpassing the 59 hit by former West Indies captain Chris Gayle in a single IPL edition back in 2012 — a record that had stood for over a decade. The youngster came tantalisingly close to another landmark, needing just three more runs for what would have been the fastest century in IPL history, but was caught at deep third man attempting an audacious slash off a short ball.

Sunrisers Hyderabad assistant coach James Franklin, a former New Zealand international, was unstinting in his praise after the match.